Jan. 7, 2012
Box Score
KENT, Ohio - Three Bobcat players scored in double figures, but it was not enough to withstand a strong second half by Kent State as the Golden Flashes rallied back to defeat the Ohio University women's basketball team 68-65 Saturday afternoon at the Memorial Athletic Convocation Center.
Senior Tenishia Benson (Akron, Ohio), sophomore Shavon Robinson (Canton, Ohio) and junior Ashley Fowler (Cincinnati, Ohio) all finished in double figures, scoring 15, 14 and 10 points, respectively.
Ohio (8-8, 1-1 Mid-American Conference) shot 43.6 percent from the field but was out-rebounded by a 38-27 margin. The Bobcats did force Kent State into 18 turnovers while limiting themselves to just 13 miscues. Ohio has forced each of its last three opponents into 15 turnovers or more.
Benson's impressive streak of making 29 consecutive free throws came to an end on Saturday, as she missed her first two attempts. She finished 3-of-5 from the free-throw line.
Kent State (2-10, 1-1 MAC) opened the game on a strong note as it jumped out to a 15-8 lead at the 15:49 mark of the first half, but Ohio fought right back as it went on a 15-3 run to open up a 23-18 advantage with 10:49 to play in the first frame.
Benson keyed the Bobcats' first-half surge as she scored six points during the stretch. As a team, Ohio was 6-of-8 from the field during that period.
The Bobcats went on to hold the lead for the remainder of the half and led by as many as 11 points. Ohio went on to take an eight-point advantage into the locker room as it led 36-28 at the break.
In the second half, it took Kent State less than six minutes to trim the Bobcats' first-half lead to zero as the Golden Flashes went on a 14-6 run to even the score at 42 apiece with 14:08 to play. Ohio responded with an 8-2 run to take a six-point advantage at 50-44 with 10:25 on the clock. Robinson scored three points during the stretch.
The Bobcats went on to increase their lead to as many as eight points in the second half (9:20 remaining), but Kent State would not go away as it fought back to tie the score at 56 apiece. During the final stretch, Kent State would outscore Ohio 12-9 to secure the win.
Ohio returns to action on Thursday, Jan. 12 as it heads to Bowling Green for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The game will be the last road contest before the team returns home for three straight games at the Convocation Center.
